The youngest defendant in the long-running Harwich murder trial of Michael Beckwith dramatically changed his plea to guilty of manslaughter today.

Joseph Smith, now 18, who was 17 when the 44-year-old care worker was allegedly attacked in a remote spot, asked for the charge of murder to be put again at the close of the prosecution case.

Then, in front of the jury, Smith said “not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter”. The jury has now been sent home until Monday.

The prosecution allege that Mr Beckwith was lured to a remote spot off Barrack Lane, Harwich, at about 10pm on Sunday 31 July last year by his former fiancée Rebecca Ryan, where he was attacked by two masked men wielding metal poles.

Mr Beckwith suffered 17 blows to his head, arms, legs and body. He died 36 hours later in hospital, on 2 August, from the effects of the blunt force trauma.

On trial are Scott Swift, 27, of Station Road, Dovercourt; Rebecca Ryan, 22, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley; Joseph Smith, 18, of Canning Street, Harwich; Triston Biddlecombe, 24, and his wife Enderlein Biddlecombe, 20, both of East Street, Harwich. Swift is a previous boyfriend of Ryan.

Ryan, known as Becky, worked with Mr Beckwith at Connolly Care Home in Weeley. Their relationship had ended a few days before the alleged attack. Swift, Ryan and Smith, all deny murder.

The married Biddlecombes deny assisting an offender - Swift and Smith - by washing and burning clothing - intending to impede their apprehension and prosecution.

They also deny perverting the course of public justice by providing police with a false alibi for Swift.

Ryan is further charged with perverting justice by falsely claiming she had also been a victim in the attack on Mr Beckwith. One of the assailants struck her in the face.

The trial continues.